Derek Bowler

Iran internet blackout: Digital forensics & verification ift.tt/cQMUVmr

Inside Kahrizak: Verified morgue footage hints at scale of Iran's deadly crackdown ift.tt/a6wzQET

Sentiment analysis for investigators: Mapping emotional data with Python ift.tt/5S76bAW

The image of a young woman smoking with Khamenei's photo is not from Iran, but it is a symbol of the protests ift.tt/JEgVIkv

Dispatch: The data stays on - piercing the Iranian blackout ift.tt/sIq3QE9

Iran crackdown: Verified footage shows graphic scenes as bodies processed in Tehran morgue ift.tt/E0a6eNR

Viral photographs allegedly show Nicolás Maduro being escorted by armed guards at an airfield after his capture by U.S. forces.We used an AI watermark detection tool to confirm that some of the images were created using Google’s AI tools. We also cross-referenced the image’s visual details — including agency insignia and aircraft type — against verified reports of the operation. spotlight.ebu.ch/p/maduro-captu…

First photo of Maduro after being captured by the United States. I cannot verify its authenticity.

A slew of other similar images were also circulating, purporting to show Maduro being paraded around the airfield after his arrest by U.S. forces. #Venezuela #madurocaptured spotlight.ebu.ch/p/maduro-captu…

The investigator’s guide to website infrastructure: WHOIS, SSL, and server fingerprinting Foundational theory and ethical-legal framework Applied methodology: step-by-step practical implementation Verification and analysis for reporting spotlight.ebu.ch/p/website-infr… by @BowlerDerek

2025 was a wild year for facts. 🔍 From AI-generated Popes to $100k World Cup tickets and the digital frontlines of the Iran-Israel war, Eurovision News Spotlight spent the year deconstructing the noise. Check out our top investigations from a year of global crisis:

Why every journalist, fact-checker, and OSINT practitioner needs this in their toolkit 🛠️ In an era of AI and coordinated disinformation, "going it alone" is no longer an option. Truth is a collaborative effort, and Eurovision News Spotlight is the engine for that collective defence. If you haven’t subscribed to spotlight.ebu.ch yet, here is exactly what you are missing: 🔎 Fact-Checks: High-level verifications of cross-border narratives backed by the collective intelligence of 29+ public service organisations. 🧠 In-Depth & Analysis: Deep dives ives into the "why" and "how" behind coordinated inauthentic behaviour and synthetic media. 🔦 Spotlights: Targeted investigations into high-stakes events like elections, pooling resources from public service members across the EBU membership. 🗓️ Fact-Check & OSINT Reviews: Monthly masterclasses that walk you through the exact workflows used to solve complex verification cases. 🛠️ Tutorials: Technical "how-to" guides on everything from advanced geolocation to navigating international legal databases. 📡 Dispatches: Rapid-response briefings from the front lines of breaking news and emerging disinformation tactics. The Bottom Line: This isn’t just a newsletter; it’s a professional edge. It’s free, it’s forensic, and it’s fuelled by the world’s most trusted newsrooms. 👉 Subscribe for free at: spotlight.ebu.ch #Journalism #OSINT #FactChecking #Disinformation #EBU #MediaIntegrity #Verification #DigitalForensics #EBUSpotlight

If you are a digital investigator who lives at the intersection of breaking news, OSINT, and disinformation defense - come join my team! ebujobs.teamtailor.com/jobs/6956554-f… #journorequest #osint

@washingtonpost Our earlier investigation into the ads spotlight.ebu.ch/p/the-new-fron…

As a U.N.-recognized famine swept Gaza, Google allowed Israel to run YouTube ads claiming “There is food in Gaza.” An internal email reveals the company received many complaints about the ads, but ruled they could remain online. wapo.st/3WFtzto

30 years ago today the @SmashingPumpkin released “Bullet with Butterfly Wings”. This was at @MontreuxJazz in 2024. Great gig. Iconic song. Incredible album. Apologies for the backing vocals. 🦋 #smashingpumpkins

The OSINT prompt for AI-powered image geolocation spotlight.ebu.ch/p/the-osint-pr…

This referee's whistle sounds more like a Portuguese tourist visa application. I reckon he’ll ask Ronaldo for his jersey after the game and get an autograph on the official match report. Disgraceful stuff! #PORIRL #COYBIG

Trump claims Cuba’s lack of Tylenol means low autism rates—but evidence linking paracetamol use in pregnancy to autism remains limited and contested spotlight.ebu.ch/p/has-cuba-no-…

@davidrkadler @Google Documents reveal how Israel's state-sponsored 'hasbara' campaigns use social media, paid influencers, and military tours to shape the global narrative on Gaza and counter critics spotlight.ebu.ch/p/the-new-fron…

Before we went live with tonight’s #latelate, @PatricKielty recorded a special message of support for fellow chat show host @jimmykimmel ☘️